Tigers try to stretch road win streak vs. Indians

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Tigers go after their 12th straight road win on Monday when they start a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Detroit won its sixth straight game overall and completed a three-game sweep
of the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, as Victor Martinez hit a two-run home run in
the Tigers' 6-2 triumph.

Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Ian Kinsler was 4-for-5 with
two runs scored for Detroit, which is in the midst of its longest road winning
streak since capturing the first 17 away from home back in 1984.

"Miggy and Victor have been hitting well all season long," Detroit manager
Brad Ausmus said.

Anibal Sanchez (1-2) returned from a stint on the disabled list to pick up his
first win of the season as he gave up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits
with three walks and three strikeouts over five innings.

Getting the call for the Tigers on Monday will be lefty Drew Smyly, who is 2-2
with a 2.70 ERA. Smyly did not get a decision on Tuesday in Baltimore, but he
pitched well, as he allowed just a run and five hits in six innings of his
team's 4-1 win.

Smyly has faced the Indians 11 times, but this will only be his second start
against them. He is 1-1 in those appearances with a 5.09 ERA.

Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with righty Corey Kluber, who has won his
last two starts. Kluber was supported with 15 runs on Wednesday in Toronto, as
he surrendered a pair of runs and four hits in seven innings. He also struck
out nine batters and improved to 4-3 to go along with a 3.38 ERA.

Kluber is just 1-3 with a 5.50 ERA in seven games (6 starts).

"Everybody here is aware of the fact that [the Tigers] are playing well," said
Kluber. "But it doesn't do us any good to compare ourselves to them, at this
point."

As hot as Detroit is at the moment, Cleveland enters this series at the other
end of the spectrum and has dropped four in a row after a 13-3 shellacking at
the hands of the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

Justin Masterson (2-3) surrendered a season-high seven runs on seven hits and
five walks in 4 1/3 innings to absorb his second straight loss.

"Command was obviously his biggest issue. He had five walks and couldn't
locate his breaking ball," said Indians manager Terry Francona.

Michael Bourn and Michael Brantley each recorded solo homers for the Indians,
who have dropped six of their last eight games. Cleveland was 0-for-7 with
runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.

Detroit split a two-game series with the Tribe earlier in the year, but has
won 15 of the last 18 matchups. The Tigers were also 9-1 a year ago at
Progressive Field.